"Why book? The best it gets for cheap digs souped up with cheerful service and great access to the surrounding neighborhood and beyond. Set the scene Structurally, it reads like a business hotel, with slim, efficient rooms, but there’s a lot of soul in the small touches—designer bath products, adorable pillows and subtle design flourishes. The little lobby doubles as a planning zone where guests can lounge and scope out a mural full of neighborhood recommendations (QR codes are available to learn more in English). The backstory The premise of the OMO hotels is simple: graded from 1 to 9, each property promises a different level of accoutrement; the OMO3, in this case, slides more toward the no-frills end of the spectrum but plenty of comfort is still on offer. Rooms Clever design—like a headboard that transforms into a couch as it stretches beyond the bed—enlivens ergonomic spaces in this bright, budget fave. Food & drink Breakfast is served in the cafe next door; it may sound strange, but the thick-cut toast is spectacular. Neighborhood Akasaka, or red hill, has had many lives before its current incarnation as a bustling business district—it was once the domain of several prominent samurai families, and a thriving hanamachi, or geisha area. Today the neighborhood comes alive on OMO’s “Ranger Tours”; staff-led outings that take travelers to hidden shrines, shops and even a secret tea salon run by a former geisha. Hour-long tours are the outcome of six months of meticulous research by the OMO employees. Service Big smiles come standard at any Hoshino Resorts property; and while much of the clientele is Japanese, we’re hoping for a sprinkle of English for international Hoshino converts." - Brandon Presser
